By Michael Bernaschina, Staff writer
The morning of Thursday, April 19, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion held one of its weekly Let’s Talk discussions, focusing on the injustices of the criminal justice system.
The discussion, which was officially titled “Let’s Talk Criminal Justice: Injustices in the Justice System” was held in the held in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, located in the lower level of the Degenstein Campus Center, and went from 11:35 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.
The discussion was opened with a short video titled “How Our Criminal Justice System Targets Communities” which featured author and news commentator Van Jones, who spoke about the criminal justice system. “If rich folks’ kids get in trouble, they go to rehab,” Jones said. “Poor folk’s kids get in trouble, they go to prison.”
After the video, statistics regarding the justice system were brought up, including how within the United States, around 2.3 million people are currently in prison, as well as the fact that the United States holds the number one spot in the world for the most incarcerations, and has more correctional facilities than any other country.
Sophomore Anna McDermott, one of the students leading the discussion, opened it with the question of what some of the issues were that got us to the justice system’s current state.
“The War on Drugs,” said Chaplain Scott Kershner. “It was a law enforcement change in the 80s that sent people to prison for minor drug crimes, and its targeted poor and minority communities.”
Another topic touched on throughout the discussion was the idea of rehabilitation versus punishment and which one the United States over the other.
“Our system is based on revenge rather than justice,” said junior Kerry Lewis, who spoke about the punishing nature of the system and how those who go to prison will likely end up going back. “It’s just a way of extracting slave labor.”
“How does a criminal record impact employment and the rest of your life afterwards?” said McDermott, posing the question as the next topic of discussion.
Multiple students brought up the difficulty former prisoners face when trying to find employment or somewhere to stay after they’ve been released, calling the word “felon” itself a life sentence of its own.
Other topics that were raised during the discussion included voting laws, the idea that segregation persisted into the modern day through vagrancy laws and the 13th Amendment.
McDermott closed the discussion with the question of “What can we do now?” which students answered with answers like voting in elections, writing your congressmen, as well as education to keep people informed.
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion will be holding another Let’s Talk event next week on Tuesday, April 24, about eco-justice and environmental activism.